This is the 3rd in a series of four guest posts from author Thomas E. Kennedy, each focusing on questions that have empowered him - and could also empower you - as a writer.
Q: What is the greatest reward of writing?
Thomas E. Kennedy:
Rewards for your writing sometimes seem scarce. How much are you paid for a story or a poem? How many copies are published of the magazine in which it appears? How many people actually read it? How often do you even earn a word of encouragement for what you’ve written?
Of course we do want to get our stuff out there; we want it to be read. But at some point every serious writer will recognize that of all the rewards you get or do not get as a writer, the single most important reward must be the act of writing itself. It is a gift and privilege to be able to write, and surely every serious writer has experienced this reward when she or he is working at top end – when you are in perfect harmony with the place your words come from, the place where your stories are waiting to be told.
At the risk of seeming mystical, in my experience that is a sacred place, and being allowed to enter it is the closest thing I know to a spiritual discipline. There is no reward – money, renown, publication – greater than the privilege of gaining entry to that place.
What do you find rewarding about writing?
Thomas E. Kennedy is the author of eight novels, as well as several collections of short stories and essays. He teaches creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
In the Company of Angels, published by Bloomsbury in June 2010, is one of four novels comprising the Copenhagen Quartet. It is the first of Kennedy’s books to be published in the UK.
For me it was finishing my first novel not writing it. I enjoyed the writing but it was a long lengthy process with far to much editing and revising.
I write a travel blog, I've written a few short stories, started but never finished several novels and have written some articles or magazines before. I only consider myself a writer now I've finished my first whole complete novel. Even if no-one ever reads it (bar my poor husband/proofreader) I feel a great sense of accomplishment just to have finished it.
Working when the heart and mind work as one is the most rewarding experience, in writing and in life. No money or fame surpasses that feeling of accomplishment. Thomas, you truly know your craft. Not to appear presumptious of me, but when I see posts like this, beautifully capturing the essence of the writer, it inevitably leads me to think of it's author. There so many things I would like to say, bit I'll try to phrase it simply; understanding minds will always be appreciated and it makes me happy to know they are there for those who seek.